Political Parties Commit to Ensuring Violence-free Election; Sign Revised Farmington River Agreement
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Loading... - Kesse Anim
- 06 Apr 2023
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Tuesday, April 4th was a momentous occasion in Liberia, as key political parties gearing up for Liberia’s crucial Presidential and Legislative Elections signed a landmark agreement affirming their commitment to peaceful, transparent, and credible elections.
President George Manneh Weah, representing the Liberian Government and the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, led over 20 political parties, including the opposition Unity Party and Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), in affixing their signatures to the document dubbed the Farmington River Declaration 2023.
Tuesday’s signing ceremony was organized under the auspices of the Liberia’s National Election Commission, ECOWAS and the United Nations with the UN and ECOWAS signing the agreement as witnesses. On behalf of the UN, Ms. Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and acting head of The UN office for West Africa and the Sahel, signed the agreement, and Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission signed on behalf of ECOWAS.
Addressing the conference, President Weah called on political party leaders and stakeholders in the upcoming elections to avoid vices that have the tendency to cause violence and disrupt Liberia’s hard-earned peace.
“Let me therefore use this occasion to urge all stakeholders who have a vested interest in the October elections to avoid incendiary language and what I perceive to be a growing culture of militancy, which can have the propensity to quickly spill over into violence,” President Weah said.
The President’s comments come amid a surge in violent altercations between rival political parties’ militant groups, something that was prevalent in the 2022 Lofa County by-election. His own party, the ruling CDC, has formed several militant-styled auxiliary groups uniquely identified with their blue and red berets. Other political parties have followed suit and formed their counter-militant groups. Read More…
